How to burn off toddler energy indoors? This is something that I ask myself every rainy (or incredibly hot) day. Fortunately this list of 20+ Indoor Energy Burning Activities contains a whole heap of indoor games for kids that are designed to keep kids moving and having fun.
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Indoor Energy Burning Activities for Kids
1. Insect Movement Dice
This Insect Movement Dice is a free printable for kids. Burn off some energy with this simple activity as your toddlers and preschoolers move like insects.
2. Animal Movement Cards
Animal Movement Cards are a fun way to explore different ways of moving. Use them as brain breaks, and activities to burn off extra energy.
3. Hula Hoop Hop – Learn Play Imagine
How many high energy toddler activities can you create using just hula hoops? If you use your imaginations, there are quite a lot. One of my favorites is just placing the hoops in a line on the floor and getting the kids to hop from one to the next. If the kids need an extra challenge then just move the hoops further apart.
4. Printable Activity Cards – Childhood 101
Get kids moving with these printable gross motor activity cards. Great for classroom brain breaks or PE, at home or school.
5. Indoor Apple Picking Activity – Hands On As We Grow
Make an indoor apple tree for a fun fall gross motor game: apple picking! Discover fun, creative ways to move with your preschooler.
6. Spider Web Gross Motor Activity – No Time For Flashcards
This is one of the most popular Halloween themed energy burning activities you’ll find. Kids love pretending to be spiders and balancing along on their webs.
7. Gross Motor Activity to Practice Skip Counting – Learn Play Imagine
Counting and jumping? This is a fantastic way to practice a bit of math while letting the kids burn off some energy.
8. Elephant Stomp – Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Stomp on the elephants and hear the bubble wrap pop. Kids will love making a noise with this fun play idea.
9. Tunnel Race with Poms Poms – Best Toys 4 Toddlers
This simple tunnel race game with pom poms was created in just a few minutes. Your kids will have a blast and laugh all the way through this fantastic idea.
10. Line Jumping Activity – Little Bins for Little Hands
All you need for some indoor energy burning activities is painters tape. There is so much you can do with just a few lines on the floor.
11. Dinosaur Roll and Move – Pre-K Pages
A fun dinosaur roll and move gross motor activity for your preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten classroom. Your kids will love moving like dinosaurs with this fun movement game.
12. Brown Bear, Brown Bear Gross Motor Idea – 3 Dinosaurs
How many ways does the brown bear move? Set your kids this challenge to see what they can come up with.
13. P is for Push and Pull – What Can We Do With Paper and Glue
Learning about the letter P this week? Here is a fun and easy way to keep children active.
14. Moon Crater Gross Motor Activity – Pre-K Pages
Let your kids toss a ball at a moon target and make moon craters (just like in space). Gross motor activities for kids aren’t just about letting off steam, they can be educational too.
15. Cowboy Gross Motor Activity – Pre-K Pages
A fun printable to create a cowboy movement game for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten that can be used for a cowboy or western theme.
16. Name Hop – Fantastic Fun and Learning
The beauty of this simple gross motor name activity is that it can be done inside or outside and on the fly! Whether you’re looking for a rainy or wintry day inside activity, or just some extra name practice, this gross motor name activity is sure to get kids moving and learning.
17. XO Hop – Best Toys 4 Toddlers
This indoor gross motor game is a combination of jumping school and tic-tac-toe game hence the name – XO hop.
18. Wheelbarrow Walk – Stir The Wonder
Do you remember doing wheelbarrow races when you were little. Well if you add this fun puzzle component to it you can include it in your list of indoor games for kids.
19. Stick Ladder – Happy Toddler Playtime
Stick Ladder is a fun and easy outdoor activity for kids. Easy to set up and a great way to get kids moving. But what if you’re stuck inside? It doesn’t matter, bring the sticks inside and let the kids enjoy a bit of nature indoors.
20. Tape Jumping – Hands On As We Grow
Get moving and work on preschool gross motor skills with a simple tape jumping game for kids to do indoors! It’s a great energy buster.
21. Balloon Tennis – Little Bins for Little Hands
Balloon tennis makes a great indoor gross motor play idea. After all, balloons are always a hit with kids.
22. Walking On Pillows – Hands On As We Grow
Believe it or not, indoor energy burning activities for kids don’t require any special toys or materials. Create a line of cushions and see what your kids will come up with.
23. Valentine Hop and Pop – Coffee Cups and Crayons
Get ready to hop and pop with this Valentine’s Day themed gross motor game. Just jump on the hearts and pop them, easy peasy but so much fun.
24. Bubbly Ball Bowling – Best Toys 4 Toddlers
Combine sensory with gross motor play with this fun indoor bowling activity for kids. Everything is made with items from the recycle bin, so it doesn’t cost a thing.
25. Winter Movement Dice
Grab your copy of this Winter movement dice. This free printable game is a great way to get kids to burn off some extra energy this Winter.
Are you going to try any of these Indoor Energy Burning Activities with your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.
